Arouse or rouse?

Rouse and arouse are both used in formal contexts. Arouse means ‘make someone have a particular feeling’:

• Both lecturers aroused a lot of interest in the subject of geology.

Rouse means ‘wake someone up’ or ‘make someone active’:

• The goal roused the supporters and they began to really get behind the team. (get behind means ‘support’)

We also use rouse as a reflexive verb:

• She finally roused herself at lunchtime and got out of bed.